History Main / MessianicArchetype

While the word "messiah" has different meanings in different cultures and there have been [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_messiah_claimants dozens of claimants to the title]] according to Website/{{Wikipedia}}, for most Western intents and purposes, the term has been HijackedByJesus, with Jesus becoming the TropeMaker.

* Franchise/SpiderMan becomes this in ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'', [[spoiler: especially when he dies]].

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* Prince Fly Catcher of ''Comicbook/{{Fables}}''.

* Art/SistineChapel:
** Since ''The Last Judgement'' depicts Christ's resurrection, it's only natural for the painting directly above it to depict a figure seen as foreshadowing Christ: the prophet Jonah, who is sitting back as if too large for his portrait.
** The handsome young man dressed in white in ''The Temptations of Christ'' is a stand-in for Christ. His interaction with a Moses-looking Jewish priest emphasizes one of the larger themes of the Sistine Chapel's artwork, that the Old Testament and New Testament are continuous with each other.

* Since ''Art/CharityBouguereau'' design was done to [[MadonnaArchetype evoke the Virgin Mary]], the ''[[{{Putto}} putti]]'' surrounding her become associated with the Baby Jesus.

** Pharaoh Atem could also with the trope. Seeing as he sealed his soul away in an 'unsolvable' puzzle for 5000 years (or 3000 years depending)in order to save the world from being consumed by the shadow realm.

* Yugi Mutou of ''Anime/YuGiOh'' is a clever deconstruction of this. Everyone who knows him agrees that he's [[IncorruptiblePurePureness pure light]] and they would do virtually anything for him, but against the world as a whole, he's a tragically misunderstood innocent -- his pacifism gets him beaten up by school bullies on a regular basis, for example.

* The most obvious example of this in ''Manga/{{AKIRA}}'' is, of course, the titular character, a godlike psychic mutant [[ChildrenAreInnocent child]] whose extraordinary power [[TheAntichrist could mean the end of the world]] as easily as [[TheMessiah its utter salvation]]; in the end, [[spoiler:he '[[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence dies]]' to create a new universe to contain his own and Tetsuo's man-made superpowers]]. Bonus points for his frothing-at-the-mouth [[{{Cult}} cult following]] and [[spoiler:his short resurrection in the movie]].

* Touya in ''Literature/InAnotherWorldWithMySmartphone'' is this. It's actually God's choice to send him to the world that needed him most. And considering he helps lots of people (including freeing slaves) and stops two assassination plots to usurp the throne, multiple coups (one involving undead uprising) and Fraze/Phrase invasions, he's pretty much that world's savior. It also helps that he's a NiceGuy. can use healing magic, [[FriendToAllChildren nice to children (and occasionally makes toys new in that world)]], [[spoiler:he's a demigod and is considered as God's adopted grandson]].

* In ''Manga/OnePiece''

* Played with in ''Ultraman Moedari.'' Moedari is [[spoiler:apparently killed when Lunaram kicks the moon into his face, but his connection with Jake saves him and gives him]] his Trinity Form. The motif is a circle with a triangle with three circles inside of it with triangles inside, etc, and the finisher is cross-shaped. [[spoiler:Ultimately subverted.]]

* In ''WebAnimation/DiamondInTheRoughTouhou'', [[spoiler:Shinki]] tells this to Brolli in Makai, that he might die in order to save Gensokyo. Brolli doesn't want that, [[spoiler:but YouCantFightFate]].

* The ''Series/StargateSG1'' fic "[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3110437/1/Child-of-the-Ancients Child of the Ancients]]" introduces Liam Carter Jackson, the son of Daniel Jackson and Samantha Carter, conceived while Daniel was Ascended and taken away by Oma Desala for his protection. The SGC soon learn that Liam was essentially taken away so that he could eventually serve as a counterpart to Adria, the child of the Ori, but all parties are assured that Daniel didn't come to Sam solely to conceive Liam for this future purpose, as part of the reason Liam is a contrast to Adria is that he was conceived through an act of love rather than as part of a long-term agenda.

* Enzo in ''Film/{{Reality}}'' is seen by Luciano as a Messianic figure. There's even a sequence in which Enzo is suspended over a crowd with lighting suggestive of artistic depictions of Christ's Transfiguration, with his arms spread as if he is being crucified.

* Literature/SnowWhite in ''Film/SnowWhiteAndTheHuntsman'' is both this and the ApocalypseMaiden.

%%* Luke from ''Film/CoolHandLuke''
* Even though some elements of this are present in the comic book, the ''Film/{{Superman}}'' movies take it much further:

* Bemossad in the ''Literature/EaCycle''. [[spoiler:And Estrella.]]

* Simon in ''Literature/LordOfTheFlies''.

* In Creator/StevenErikson's ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'':

** Anomander Rake is the great hero of the [[OurElvesAreDifferent Tiste]] [[DarkIsNotEvil Andii]] race, who took it upon himself to lead and guide his race after their goddess, Mother Dark, had turned away from them. In book eight, ''Literature/TollTheHounds'', [[spoiler:he sacrifices himself in order to bring back Mother Dark, thus bringing redemption to the Tiste Andii]]. Does this remind you of anyone?

* [=McMurphy=] in ''Literature/OneFlewOverTheCuckoosNest''.
* Matt from ''Literature/ThePowerOfFive''. [[ItMakesSenseInContext Both of him]].

* Jim Conklin from ''Literature/TheRedBadgeOfCourage''. His initials are J.C., too.
* Darrow from ''Literature/RedRising.'' Over the course of the trilogy, he gathers a group of friends who willingly follow him even after discovering his [[ASheepInWolfsClothing true origins]], is betrayed by one of them in the second book, and has part-literal/part-figurative resurrections in books one and three.

* Pacifica Casull, the eponymous ''Literature/ScrappedPrincess'', follows this trope to the letter.

* The White Prophet [[spoiler:AKA the Fool]] in Creator/RobinHobb's ''[[Literature/TawnyMan The Tawny Man]]'' trilogy.

* The Counselor in ''Literature/TheWarOfTheEndOfTheWorld''.

* Myssia, in ''Literature/TheWillBeDone'', was a ''potential'' messiah. It doesn't work out, to put it mildly.
* The Unicorn in ''Literature/TheLastUnicorn'' fits the elements pretty well. She's an incorruptible pure figure at the start of her story, the last of her species, she gains a group of loyal followers during her adventures, and once human she gets to understand humanity's flaws and beauties. She even "dies" at one point (returning to her original Unicorn form), sacrificing herself and the possibility of living a peaceful life as a human, but thanks to it she manages to save her world and her people from destruction.

* The Lord of the Dance from...well...[[Film/LordOfTheDance1997 The Lord of the Dance]].

* Aang in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. He's a PhysicalGod, he [[AllLovingHero has a love of all life, even his enemies]], and [[spoiler:is temporarily killed at the hands of Azula]].
** Katara, who is sorta like Aang's mother figure, [[spoiler: carries his lifeless body in PietaPlagiarism style after Azula's attack. Further emphasizing his messianic status.]]

** Toki. When given the power of the Hokuto arts, he uses them for healing instead of harming and often performs miracles for sick people. When he has to kill, he uses a technique that causes the victims to experience great euphoria as they die.

* ''Manga/WatashiNoMessiahsama'' : ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.

* Ulysses in ''Anime/Ulysses31''. The original Ulysses from ''Literature/TheOdyssey'' may not have necessarily been a Messianic figure, but this one certainly is.

* D-boy or Takaya Aiba from ''Anime/TekkamanBlade'' is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold version this combined with FantasticRacism and being treated as nothing but mere weapons and experimental subject by the military. Although, when you actually see his backstory, his JerkAss tendency is VERY justified.

** Mikaela Hyakuya has blonde hair and blue eyes, has a name that means Godlike, and is literally a Seraph. He also counts as immortal as he's a vampire
** Gilbert Chartres, Crowley's comrade from the light novels. He has blonde hair and blue eyes, is a religious Christian and everyone looks up to him as a leader, has TrueCompanions that follow him and [[spoiler:is betrayed by one of his followers]]. Oh, and he's a part of [[UsefulNotes/TheKnightsTemplar THOSE guys]]

* [[Characters/TheOwlHouseLuzNoceda Luz Noceda]] of ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' has all of the qualifications down pat. [[spoiler:Firstly, she is an outsider to the Boiling Isles who is treated with scorn at home and who starts showing the inhabitants a new way of living that improves their lives and helps to deliver them from a great evil. Secondly, she shows love to everyone [[AllLovingHero including her enemies]], whom she helps to redeem throughout the show, offering them guidance to the correct path towards happiness. Thirdly she stands in direct juxtaposition to her nemesis Emperor Belos in that she speaks the truth of the world, whereas he deliberately attempts to lead people astray. To top it all off, Luz is briefly killed in "Watching and Dreaming" by Belos, sacrificing herself to save the Collector. However, due to the Titan giving her all of his power, Luz is able to come back from the dead [[CameBackStrong even more powerful than before before]] and finally finish off the monstrous Belos for good. Luz even gets a spiffy new design to showcase her direct connection to the Titan, who fulfills the role of the setting's god, after being handpicked by said god to defeat [[SatanicArchetype Belos]] before he can corrupt the entire Boiling Isles, further cementing her status as his true emissary.]]

* Touya in ''LightNovel/InAnotherWorldWithMySmartphone'' is this. It's actually God's choice to send him to the world that needed him most. And considering he helps lots of people (including freeing slaves) and stops two assassination plots to usurp the throne, multiple coups (one involving undead uprising) and Fraze/Phrase invasions, he's pretty much that world's savior. It also helps that he's a NiceGuy. can use healing magic, [[FriendToAllChildren nice to children (and occasionally makes toys new in that world)]], [[spoiler:he's a demigod and is considered as God's adopted grandson]].

* Usagi Tsukino in ''Anime/SailorMoon''. [[spoiler:Who is even called the Messiah in ''Sailor Moon S'' and for the duration of that series possesses an item called the "Holy Grail." All of this was naturally censored from TheNineties US dub, though only by removing religious names and not the actual plot elements.]] In the ending of Season 1 -- [[spoiler:She uses the silver crystal to defeat Metalia, dies, and makes a wish on the crystal that she, Mamouru, and the other senshi be returned to life [[IJustWantToBeNormal as normal people]]. That doesn't last long...]]

* Kiri in ''Film/AvatarTheWayOfWater'': She's [[spoiler: born of Grace's old Avatar body, her conception being "a complete mystery."]] Throughout the film, she demonstrates a connection to Pandora's wildlife and biosphere that runs deeper than other Na'Vi's, in their eyes and her own, she's performing miracles.

* Aslan in ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'', a.k.a. [[CrystalDragonJesus Talking Lion Jesus]], and/or [[KungFuJesus Combat Jesus]]. As Website/ThatGuyWithTheGlasses put it in his 5-second version:
-->'''Susan:''' But Aslan, how?\\
'''Aslan:''' ''Because I'm Jesus!''

* Usagi Tsukino in ''Anime/SailorMoon''. [[spoiler:Who is even called the Messiah in ''Sailor Moon S'' and for the duration of that series possesses an item called the "Holy Grail." All of this was naturally censored from TheNineties US dub, though only by removing religious names and not the actual plot elements.]]
** The ending of Season 1 -- [[spoiler:She uses the silver crystal to defeat Metalia, dies, and makes a wish on the crystal that she, Mamouru, and the other senshi be returned to life [[IJustWantToBeNormal as normal people]]. That doesn't last long...]]

* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'': Yui Ikari (''especially'' if you ask Gendo), Rei Ayanami [[spoiler:who was a clone of Yui]] and Kaworu [[spoiler:"[[MemeticMutation He Died for Your Sins]]"]] Nagisa[[note]]oddly enough, he was based on ''Literature/TheMysteriousStranger'''s {{Satan|ic Archetype}}[[/note]]. Shinji also has some Messianic elements, but ''really'' doesn't want to be one of these, but ended up [[spoiler:acting as the channel for all the souls of humanity, along with Rei and Yui [[AndIMustScream who had let herself be trapped in Eva-01]].]] The parallel goes as far as Shinji forgiving everyone and deciding to redeem them, despite all the shit the world put him through.
** As in ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'', this is definitely [[spoiler:Kaworu more than ever: a crown of thorn analogue, Mark 06 Bible reference, walking on water (the game spin offs of Rebuild), literally carrying Shinji's sin and representing the hope for salvation and redemption. There's a song of Shinji's mindset that compares our protagonist to Judas hilariously.]]

* Tragic of ''Mythic Quest'' is believed to be this by the Church of the Seeker, which was founded on this belief alone, despite his quite publicized decision to SaveTheGirlScrewTheWorld.

* [[spoiler:Elenore]] in ''Anime/{{Madlax}}'' tragically becomes one.

* ''Anime/ImGonnaBeAnAngel'''s Noelle. She even has a halo and [[spoiler:is, in fact, an angel, or more accurately, a 1/3 of an angel]].

* ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'': As the long-awaited Priestess of Suzaku, Miaka is definitely this to the people of Konan. Also, in the [[Manga/FushigiYuugiGenbuKaiden prequel]], Takiko is this to the people of Hokkan when she becomes the Priestess of Genbu. She doesn't think she's worthy of it, though.

* ''Manga/DeathNote'': [[spoiler:L gets this when Light is about to kill him]].
** [[DarkMessiah Light]] [[spoiler:is a failed Messiah. His death causes everything he's worked for to collapse.]] The lyrics to the first OP (full version) even include the line "Am I a broken Messiah?"

* Lelouch Lamperouge in ''Anime/CodeGeass'' often compares himself to a Messiah who produces miracles and can be seen as a Messianic Archetype at the end of the series. Or more accurately, a DarkMessiah. [[spoiler:[[ZeroApprovalGambit He redirected all the entire world's hatred upon himself so that the world may be united against him as a common enemy, causing peace]].]] His "dark" aspects come from his [[AllLovingHero deep love]] for his friends (and [[BigBrotherInstinct younger sisters]] in particular), but really to everyone -- to the point where he becomes ruthlessly vengeful against those who threaten the innocent.

* Lelouch Lamperouge in ''Anime/CodeGeass'' often compares himself to a Messiah who produces miracles and can be seen as a Messianic Archetype at the end of the series. Or more accurately, a DarkMessiah. [[spoiler:[[ZeroApprovalGambit He redirected all the entire world's hatred upon himself so that the world may be united against him as a common enemy, causing peace]].]]
** His "dark" aspects come from his [[AllLovingHero deep love]] for his friends (and [[BigBrotherInstinct younger sisters]] in particular), but really to everyone -- to the point where he becomes ruthlessly vengeful against those who threaten the innocent.

* ''Literature/TheWayOfKings'' (the first book of ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive''): Kaladin invokes this trope when he's [[HostileWeather strung up in a Highstorm]] by telling his men he'll survive, despite knowing the chances are unbelievably low.